☕ Specialty coffee vs. supermarket coffee – what's the difference?
- Maarten
- Sep 6
- 3 min read
Everyone drinks coffee, but not all coffee is the same. In the supermarket, you find bags labeled "100% Arabica" or "powerful blends," while our specialty coffee roasters talk about single origins, cupping scores, and flavor profiles . But what really sets specialty coffee apart from standard supermarket coffee?
In this blog you will discover the key differences – based on insights from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and World Coffee Research .
Specialty Coffee Quality & score
Specialty coffee is coffee of the highest quality. According to the SCA , a coffee is only labeled specialty when it achieves a cupping score of 80 points or higher (on a scale of 100). Supermarket coffee is usually purchased in bulk and often contains beans with defects.
What is the real grading?
This rating scale is structured as follows:
90-100 points: Outstanding
85-89.99 points: Excellent
80-84.99: Very good
Under 80: No grading and NOT considered a specialty coffee.
The Q scale for coffee classification
The scale used to determine whether a coffee is considered specialty coffee was developed by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). This coffee classification scale identifies ten specific, desirable characteristics of coffee, including the following:
• Aroma - Descriptions of coffee aroma can include floral, nutty, smoky, and spicy.
• Flavor - Descriptors of coffee flavor can include acidity, bitterness, sweetness, saltiness, and sourness.
• Aftertaste - Both the aroma and taste of the coffee after swallowing.
• Acidity - A primary taste in coffee that is usually experienced as a pleasant sharpness at the front of the mouth, but has a numbing sensation on the tongue and/or a dryness at the back of the palate.
• Body - Sometimes called “mouthfeel,” the body of a coffee refers to the weight or viscosity of a coffee on the tongue.
• Balance - This determines whether one characteristic of a coffee dominates over all the others.
• Cleanliness - This determines whether the coffee is free of imperfections. It does not refer to anything related to hygiene.
• Sweetness - A mild taste that is not considered sharp. It is usually first perceived on the tip of the tongue.
• Uniformity - This refers to the consistency of the coffee flavor after tasting multiple cups of coffee.
👉 Specialty coffee = strictly selected, without defects, full of flavour.
Want to try it yourself? Here's an official review form :)
Origin & transparency
Supermarket coffee: often blends from different countries, without clear information about origin.
Specialty coffee: traceable back to the plantation or cooperative. You know where the coffee comes from, what variety it is, and how it was processed.
This transparency not only creates more confidence, but also allows you to discover the diversity of flavors .
Taste & experience
Supermarket coffee: often dark roasted, so that all the flavors are similar: bitter, strong and flat.
Specialty coffee: carefully roasted to bring out unique flavor profiles. Think notes of chocolate, red fruit, citrus, or nuts .
Every cup of specialty coffee tells a story.
Freshness
Coffee loses its aromas quickly.
Supermarket coffee: often remains on the shelves for months.
Specialty coffee: roasted in small batches and usually labeled with a roasting date . At BAM Coffee, we don't sell coffee that's older than three months, so you always have fresh coffee at home.
Sustainability & impact
Specialty coffee roasters often work directly with farmers or cooperatives. This ensures farmers receive a fairer price and promotes sustainable cultivation methods . Supermarket coffee focuses primarily on volume and low prices, often lacking this impact.
Conclusion: a conscious choice
Specialty coffee isn't just tastier, it's also more sustainable and transparent. By choosing specialty coffee, you're choosing:
✅ better quality
✅ fairer trade
✅ a richer taste experience
Discover it yourself
Taste the difference between supermarket coffee and specialty coffee.
👉 Order ours at BAM Coffee and experience what really good coffee tastes like.
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